You Can Live Longer if You Have Genuine Non-Toxic Friends

I read an interesting bit of health related information distributed by my current group medical provider. The statement was based on research conducted by experts at Michigan State University.

According to the conclusion they came to about friendships, people who have active social networks and close friends they regularly talk to, tend to live longer.

Longer than what you may ask?

Longer than those of us who may only have relatives or family members to rely on for socializing and companionship.

Naturally, there’s more to this notion than meets the eye.

I doubt that these professionals were attempting to belittle or minimize anyone’s family relationships. On the contrary, close ties with family and relatives can most definitely be a good thing, especially in the current times we find ourselves living in.

So the focus of this conclusion about friends, had more to do with trying to help people see the value in maintaining friendships throughout the years leading up to their death.

Avoiding Toxic Friendships

It's become quite common, to see people writing and speaking on the topic of toxic friends, and the damage that having toxic people in your life can do.

Sad to say, this is information that’s often needed in our society, especially because of the misconception some people seem to have about what friendship really means.

Besides not having the correct viewpoint about what it means to be a true friend, there's another common reason why we tend to cultivate and hold onto toxic friendships.

Negative or not, toxic friends are often fun, attractive, and the life of the party. They have a way of attracting people like moths to a flame.

Is there any wonder why they should be avoided at all costs.

Instead, we should never lose sight of how wonderful it can be to have true and genuine friends who are there for you throughout your lifetime.

There’s no substituting friends who have come to know the authentic you, through and through — and you can rely on them to be genuine and not fake.

Don't underestimate the value of having true, non-toxic friends, whether you believe what the experts say about living longer, or you simply love spending time with your best buds who are real friends that always have your back.

Final Thoughts

As you ponder the points just mentioned in this article, think about the friends currently in your circle. But don’t just stop there.

Ask yourself some important questions about friendship:

• Are your current friends all individuals that you can trust and rely on without question?
• Are there friends that you managed to drift apart from, for no good reason except for the passing of time?
• Are there friends you cut ties with, but are worthy of reaching out to?

As we grow and mature, our viewpoints and temperaments have a way of changing over the years. This might possibly be the case with you and one or more of your previous friends.

While the last thing you want to do is return to a toxic relationship or situation; sometimes, we discover that we may have been wrong about a person or situation. If there’s a true friend out there that you want to reconnect with, now may be the time to do it, or at least think about it.

But whatever you decide to do about former or past friends, continue to appreciate those who are currently still in your life.

Take time and make time to see your friends and people in your social circle, and don’t take it for granted, even if it’s just getting together for coffee.

Not only will you continue to make happy memories, but you might just tack on a few more years of life.